Body Weight
Body weight is total body mass. It does not account for height or body composition, which is why body mass index (BMI) divides weight by height squared.
The adult values reproduce the adult male and female percentiles in Table 3 of the June 2025 NCHS anthropometric report, based on measured NHANES August 2021-August 2023 data. Weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on a digital floor scale during a single examination. Pregnant females were excluded from the published table. The data describe the US civilian noninstitutionalised population. The medians are population positions, not healthy-weight targets.
Ages 2 to 19 come from Table 1 of the January 2021 NCHS report for NHANES 2015-2018, which groups 6,244 children and adolescents by completed year of age at examination, 114 to 249 per age and sex. Pregnant females are excluded. The table leaves one value blank, the 5th percentile for girls aged 3, because its standard error could not be computed. FitnessNorms computes it from the public NHANES files with a method that reproduces every value the table prints. The 2021-2023 report publishes children only in two-year age groups, and its median weights were within 2.9 kg (6.4 lb) of the 2015-2018 values in 16 of 18 age and sex groups. Read more on Wikipedia
Data source: Fryar et al. (NHANES 2021-2023) - Weight About this study
Data source: Fryar et al. (NHANES 2015-2018) - Weight About this study
Reference population: Fryar et al. (NHANES 2021-2023) - Weight: US adults age 20 and over from NHANES 2021-2023, nationally representative; pregnant females excluded
Reference population: Fryar et al. (NHANES 2015-2018) - Weight: US children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 and adults aged 20 and over from NHANES 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 combined, nationally representative
Body Weight Norms Chart by Age and Sex (kg)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 2 | Male | 11.1 (24.5 lb) | 12.7 (28.0 lb) | 13.7 (30.2 lb) | 15.2 (33.5 lb) | 17.6 (38.8 lb) |
| Female | 10.5 (23.1 lb) | 11.9 (26.2 lb) | 13.0 (28.7 lb) | 14.4 (31.7 lb) | 15.7 (34.6 lb) | |
| 3 | Male | 13.4 (29.5 lb) | 14.6 (32.2 lb) | 15.5 (34.2 lb) | 17.5 (38.6 lb) | 23.2 (51.1 lb) |
| Female | 12.4 (27.3 lb) | 14.2 (31.3 lb) | 14.9 (32.8 lb) | 16.8 (37.0 lb) | 19.3 (42.5 lb) | |
| 4 | Male | 14.4 (31.7 lb) | 16.8 (37.0 lb) | 17.8 (39.2 lb) | 20.3 (44.8 lb) | 23.7 (52.2 lb) |
| Female | 14.0 (30.9 lb) | 16.0 (35.3 lb) | 17.7 (39.0 lb) | 19.7 (43.4 lb) | 22.7 (50.0 lb) | |
| 5 | Male | 15.6 (34.4 lb) | 18.2 (40.1 lb) | 20.5 (45.2 lb) | 22.9 (50.5 lb) | 28.3 (62.4 lb) |
| Female | 15.1 (33.3 lb) | 17.8 (39.2 lb) | 19.7 (43.4 lb) | 24.2 (53.4 lb) | 28.5 (62.8 lb) | |
| 6 | Male | 17.9 (39.5 lb) | 20.2 (44.5 lb) | 22.5 (49.6 lb) | 25.4 (56.0 lb) | 34.1 (75.2 lb) |
| Female | 16.9 (37.3 lb) | 20.2 (44.5 lb) | 22.4 (49.4 lb) | 25.1 (55.3 lb) | 34.8 (76.7 lb) | |
| 7 | Male | 20.2 (44.5 lb) | 22.8 (50.3 lb) | 26.2 (57.8 lb) | 30.7 (67.7 lb) | 39.1 (86.2 lb) |
| Female | 19.7 (43.4 lb) | 22.0 (48.5 lb) | 25.7 (56.7 lb) | 29.8 (65.7 lb) | 41.7 (91.9 lb) | |
| 8 | Male | 22.2 (48.9 lb) | 25.8 (56.9 lb) | 29.5 (65.0 lb) | 35.6 (78.5 lb) | 48.2 (106.3 lb) |
| Female | 21.4 (47.2 lb) | 24.8 (54.7 lb) | 28.3 (62.4 lb) | 36.3 (80.0 lb) | 47.6 (104.9 lb) | |
| 9 | Male | 23.6 (52.0 lb) | 28.3 (62.4 lb) | 31.8 (70.1 lb) | 38.9 (85.8 lb) | 57.1 (125.9 lb) |
| Female | 23.6 (52.0 lb) | 29.0 (63.9 lb) | 33.4 (73.6 lb) | 37.3 (82.2 lb) | 52.5 (115.7 lb) | |
| 10 | Male | 27.2 (60.0 lb) | 32.6 (71.9 lb) | 38.7 (85.3 lb) | 44.2 (97.4 lb) | 63.4 (139.8 lb) |
| Female | 24.9 (54.9 lb) | 31.6 (69.7 lb) | 39.5 (87.1 lb) | 49.0 (108.0 lb) | 58.6 (129.2 lb) | |
| 11 | Male | 28.5 (62.8 lb) | 35.7 (78.7 lb) | 44.6 (98.3 lb) | 55.1 (121.5 lb) | 69.2 (152.6 lb) |
| Female | 29.7 (65.5 lb) | 37.2 (82.0 lb) | 43.6 (96.1 lb) | 56.6 (124.8 lb) | 72.4 (159.6 lb) | |
| 12 | Male | 30.4 (67.0 lb) | 38.4 (84.7 lb) | 46.4 (102.3 lb) | 55.7 (122.8 lb) | 74.2 (163.6 lb) |
| Female | 32.6 (71.9 lb) | 42.4 (93.5 lb) | 52.1 (114.9 lb) | 61.1 (134.7 lb) | 76.0 (167.6 lb) | |
| 13 | Male | 38.0 (83.8 lb) | 46.6 (102.7 lb) | 55.4 (122.1 lb) | 70.1 (154.5 lb) | 96.2 (212.1 lb) |
| Female | 36.7 (80.9 lb) | 46.9 (103.4 lb) | 52.2 (115.1 lb) | 65.5 (144.4 lb) | 88.3 (194.7 lb) | |
| 14 | Male | 42.5 (93.7 lb) | 51.2 (112.9 lb) | 59.9 (132.1 lb) | 77.5 (170.9 lb) | 99.8 (220.0 lb) |
| Female | 45.1 (99.4 lb) | 50.8 (112.0 lb) | 59.5 (131.2 lb) | 68.8 (151.7 lb) | 84.5 (186.3 lb) | |
| 15 | Male | 47.2 (104.1 lb) | 57.0 (125.7 lb) | 66.1 (145.7 lb) | 84.1 (185.4 lb) | 114.5 (252.4 lb) |
| Female | 44.2 (97.4 lb) | 51.2 (112.9 lb) | 58.1 (128.1 lb) | 68.5 (151.0 lb) | 95.7 (211.0 lb) | |
| 16 | Male | 50.9 (112.2 lb) | 59.4 (131.0 lb) | 66.8 (147.3 lb) | 77.3 (170.4 lb) | 102.0 (224.9 lb) |
| Female | 47.7 (105.2 lb) | 53.7 (118.4 lb) | 61.8 (136.2 lb) | 71.7 (158.1 lb) | 97.7 (215.4 lb) | |
| 17 | Male | 49.8 (109.8 lb) | 60.4 (133.2 lb) | 72.1 (159.0 lb) | 88.9 (196.0 lb) | 124.6 (274.7 lb) |
| Female | 46.0 (101.4 lb) | 55.7 (122.8 lb) | 65.1 (143.5 lb) | 75.8 (167.1 lb) | 95.4 (210.3 lb) | |
| 18 | Male | 55.3 (121.9 lb) | 64.0 (141.1 lb) | 71.0 (156.5 lb) | 81.4 (179.5 lb) | 120.5 (265.7 lb) |
| Female | 44.9 (99.0 lb) | 55.3 (121.9 lb) | 62.7 (138.2 lb) | 79.2 (174.6 lb) | 111.1 (244.9 lb) | |
| 19 | Male | 54.7 (120.6 lb) | 67.0 (147.7 lb) | 77.7 (171.3 lb) | 88.5 (195.1 lb) | 112.2 (247.4 lb) |
| Female | 47.9 (105.6 lb) | 55.2 (121.7 lb) | 65.7 (144.8 lb) | 83.1 (183.2 lb) | 110.0 (242.5 lb) | |
| 20-29 | Male | 57.0 (125.7 lb) | 72.2 (159.2 lb) | 83.7 (184.5 lb) | 98.2 (216.5 lb) | 128.3 (282.9 lb) |
| Female | 47.6 (104.9 lb) | 59.4 (131.0 lb) | 68.9 (151.9 lb) | 82.9 (182.8 lb) | 121.3 (267.4 lb) | |
| 30-39 | Male | 63.6 (140.2 lb) | 77.1 (170.0 lb) | 87.1 (192.0 lb) | 101.5 (223.8 lb) | 132.5 (292.1 lb) |
| Female | 51.4 (113.3 lb) | 63.1 (139.1 lb) | 75.0 (165.3 lb) | 93.3 (205.7 lb) | 125.9 (277.6 lb) | |
| 40-49 | Male | 66.0 (145.5 lb) | 78.5 (173.1 lb) | 88.4 (194.9 lb) | 107.7 (237.4 lb) | 141.9 (312.8 lb) |
| Female | 52.8 (116.4 lb) | 63.9 (140.9 lb) | 74.8 (164.9 lb) | 90.6 (199.7 lb) | 123.7 (272.7 lb) | |
| 50-59 | Male | 61.0 (134.5 lb) | 76.8 (169.3 lb) | 87.8 (193.6 lb) | 102.0 (224.9 lb) | 138.7 (305.8 lb) |
| Female | 53.1 (117.1 lb) | 65.2 (143.7 lb) | 78.5 (173.1 lb) | 95.5 (210.5 lb) | 121.4 (267.6 lb) | |
| 60-69 | Male | 62.6 (138.0 lb) | 76.0 (167.6 lb) | 86.9 (191.6 lb) | 99.0 (218.3 lb) | 123.9 (273.2 lb) |
| Female | 51.6 (113.8 lb) | 63.3 (139.6 lb) | 74.3 (163.8 lb) | 89.9 (198.2 lb) | 109.3 (241.0 lb) | |
| 70-79 | Male | 60.8 (134.0 lb) | 74.5 (164.2 lb) | 86.6 (190.9 lb) | 96.5 (212.7 lb) | 121.3 (267.4 lb) |
| Female | 49.8 (109.8 lb) | 62.0 (136.7 lb) | 71.7 (158.1 lb) | 82.4 (181.7 lb) | 103.5 (228.2 lb) | |
| 80+ | Male | 58.0 (127.9 lb) | 70.8 (156.1 lb) | 79.9 (176.1 lb) | 90.0 (198.4 lb) | 108.5 (239.2 lb) |
| Female | 46.8 (103.2 lb) | 57.9 (127.6 lb) | 65.7 (144.8 lb) | 75.2 (165.8 lb) | 94.2 (207.7 lb) | |
What to expect by age group
Among US adults in their 30s, the middle 50% weigh 77.1 to 101.5 kg (170.0 to 223.8 lb) for men and 63.1 to 93.3 kg (139.1 to 205.7 lb) for women. Median weight is highest in the 40s for men, at 88.4 kg (194.9 lb), and in the 50s for women, at 78.5 kg (173.1 lb). It is lowest in the 80+ bracket, at 79.9 kg (176.1 lb) for men and 65.7 kg (144.8 lb) for women. For children in NHANES 2015-2018, median weight is 13.7 kg (30.2 lb) for boys and 13.0 kg (28.7 lb) for girls at age 2, and 77.7 kg (171.3 lb) and 65.7 kg (144.8 lb) at age 19. Weight does not account for height, so these percentiles describe population position, not whether a weight is healthy for a given person.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 12.7 to 15.2 (28.0 lb to 33.5 lb) | 11.9 to 14.4 (26.2 lb to 31.7 lb) |
| 3 | 14.6 to 17.5 (32.2 lb to 38.6 lb) | 14.2 to 16.8 (31.3 lb to 37.0 lb) |
| 4 | 16.8 to 20.3 (37.0 lb to 44.8 lb) | 16.0 to 19.7 (35.3 lb to 43.4 lb) |
| 5 | 18.2 to 22.9 (40.1 lb to 50.5 lb) | 17.8 to 24.2 (39.2 lb to 53.4 lb) |
| 6 | 20.2 to 25.4 (44.5 lb to 56.0 lb) | 20.2 to 25.1 (44.5 lb to 55.3 lb) |
| 7 | 22.8 to 30.7 (50.3 lb to 67.7 lb) | 22.0 to 29.8 (48.5 lb to 65.7 lb) |
| 8 | 25.8 to 35.6 (56.9 lb to 78.5 lb) | 24.8 to 36.3 (54.7 lb to 80.0 lb) |
| 9 | 28.3 to 38.9 (62.4 lb to 85.8 lb) | 29.0 to 37.3 (63.9 lb to 82.2 lb) |
| 10 | 32.6 to 44.2 (71.9 lb to 97.4 lb) | 31.6 to 49.0 (69.7 lb to 108.0 lb) |
| 11 | 35.7 to 55.1 (78.7 lb to 121.5 lb) | 37.2 to 56.6 (82.0 lb to 124.8 lb) |
| 12 | 38.4 to 55.7 (84.7 lb to 122.8 lb) | 42.4 to 61.1 (93.5 lb to 134.7 lb) |
| 13 | 46.6 to 70.1 (102.7 lb to 154.5 lb) | 46.9 to 65.5 (103.4 lb to 144.4 lb) |
| 14 | 51.2 to 77.5 (112.9 lb to 170.9 lb) | 50.8 to 68.8 (112.0 lb to 151.7 lb) |
| 15 | 57.0 to 84.1 (125.7 lb to 185.4 lb) | 51.2 to 68.5 (112.9 lb to 151.0 lb) |
| 16 | 59.4 to 77.3 (131.0 lb to 170.4 lb) | 53.7 to 71.7 (118.4 lb to 158.1 lb) |
| 17 | 60.4 to 88.9 (133.2 lb to 196.0 lb) | 55.7 to 75.8 (122.8 lb to 167.1 lb) |
| 18 | 64.0 to 81.4 (141.1 lb to 179.5 lb) | 55.3 to 79.2 (121.9 lb to 174.6 lb) |
| 19 | 67.0 to 88.5 (147.7 lb to 195.1 lb) | 55.2 to 83.1 (121.7 lb to 183.2 lb) |
| 20-29 | 72.2 to 98.2 (159.2 lb to 216.5 lb) | 59.4 to 82.9 (131.0 lb to 182.8 lb) |
| 30-39 | 77.1 to 101.5 (170.0 lb to 223.8 lb) | 63.1 to 93.3 (139.1 lb to 205.7 lb) |
| 40-49 | 78.5 to 107.7 (173.1 lb to 237.4 lb) | 63.9 to 90.6 (140.9 lb to 199.7 lb) |
| 50-59 | 76.8 to 102.0 (169.3 lb to 224.9 lb) | 65.2 to 95.5 (143.7 lb to 210.5 lb) |
| 60-69 | 76.0 to 99.0 (167.6 lb to 218.3 lb) | 63.3 to 89.9 (139.6 lb to 198.2 lb) |
| 70-79 | 74.5 to 96.5 (164.2 lb to 212.7 lb) | 62.0 to 82.4 (136.7 lb to 181.7 lb) |
| 80+ | 70.8 to 90.0 (156.1 lb to 198.4 lb) | 57.9 to 75.2 (127.6 lb to 165.8 lb) |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts and distribution labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average weight for US adults?
For all US adults aged 20 and older in NHANES August 2021-August 2023, median weight was 86.6 kg (191.0 lb) for men and 73.5 kg (162.0 lb) for women. Mean weight was 90.3 kg (199.0 lb) for men and 77.9 kg (171.8 lb) for women. The mean sits above the median because the upper tail of the distribution is longer than the lower tail.
What is the average weight for a 12-year-old?
In NHANES 2015-2018, median weight at age 12 was 46.4 kg (102.3 lb) for boys and 52.1 kg (114.9 lb) for girls. The middle 50% ran from 38.4 to 55.7 kg (84.7 to 122.8 lb) for boys and from 42.4 to 61.1 kg (93.5 to 134.7 lb) for girls. The table above links to every age from 2 to 19.
How was weight measured?
In NHANES 2021-2023, staff measured weight to the nearest 0.1 kg on a digital floor scale, and the reading was recorded automatically. Each participant was measured once, at a single examination. NHANES 2015-2018, the source for ages 2 to 19, also measured weight to the nearest 0.1 kg on a digital floor scale.
What is a healthy weight for my age?
These percentiles show where a weight sits among US adults of the same age and sex. They are not healthy-weight ranges, because weight alone does not account for height. Clinical weight categories use BMI, which divides weight by height squared. The BMI norms page shows its percentiles and the WHO categories. The BMI page covers adults aged 20 and over. The youth pages here also show only where a weight sits among children of the same age and sex, not whether it is healthy.
Why do these percentiles seem high?
The table describes the measured US adult population rather than a selected healthy cohort, so the median is a population position, not a target. Readers from populations with a different body-size distribution should not read these percentiles as local norms.
Why do ages 2 to 19 use NHANES 2015-2018 rather than 2021-2023?
The age pages show single years of age, and the August 2021-August 2023 NCHS report publishes children only in two-year age groups (2-3, 4-5 and so on), with 100 to 171 children per group and sex. NHANES 2015-2018 has 114 to 249 children per single year of age and sex. The 2021-2023 survey also had a lower examination response rate, 25.6% against 58.7% and 48.8% in the two 2015-2018 cycles. In the two-year groups, median weight in 2021-2023 was within 2.9 kg (6.4 lb) of the 2015-2018 values in 16 of 18 age and sex groups. In 2021-2023, boys aged 12-13 had a median weight of 55.2 kg (121.7 lb) against 50.7 kg (111.8 lb) in 2015-2018, and boys aged 16-17 a median of 74.0 kg (163.1 lb) against 68.9 kg (151.9 lb). No group's difference in average weight exceeds the 95% margin of survey sampling error, but boys' average weight was 2.2 to 3.4 kg (4.9 to 7.5 lb) higher in 2021-2023 in all four groups from 10-11 to 16-17. The 5th and 95th percentiles NCHS published for 2021-2023 differed more, by up to 7.2 kg (15.9 lb) for girls aged 8-9 at the 95th percentile. The trend chart marks the change of source between ages 19 and 20.